Reversible-flow cylinder paper making machine



Se t. 27, 1955 P. H. GOLDSMITH ETAL 2,718,

REVERSIBLE-FLOW CYLINDER PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l '2! Jose v5 J Vern aye ,lllllllllllllllllllllt BYMa/w f will/111mm E\ Q! r l wm 4 Sept. 27, 1955 oL s n ETAL 2,718,823

REVERSIBLE-FLOW CYLINDER PAPER MAKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 13, 1953 BY 75W ATTORNEYS p 7, 1955 P. H. GOLDSMITH ETAL 2,718,823

REVERSIBLE-FLOW CYLINDER PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR pi??? %60/07)722% Jose 72 J l/Qrwayen BYW f ATTORNEYS p 27, 1955 P. H. GOLDSMITH ETAL 2,718,823

REVERSIBLE-FLOW CYLINDER PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed March 13, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR pi/0/Z6'0/027727% Jose 0% 4/. Var/Mayan MW i W ATTORNEY5 United States Patent O fifice 2,718,823 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 REVERSIBLE-FLOW CYLINDER PAPER MAKING MACHINE Philip H. Goldsmith, Wilmington, DeL, and Joseph J. Verwayen, Waltlwick, N. J., assignors to The Pusey & Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of 7 Delaware Application March 13, 1953, Serial No. 342,132

' 9 Claims. CI. 92-43 This invention relates to paper making machines, and more particularly to a reversible-flow cylinder machine having an adjustable vat circle.

Reversible-flow cylinder machines are known'in the art,and the advantages of such machines are set forth in detail, for example, in the patent to Goldsmith, No. 2,249,128, dated July 15, 1941. set forth in the aforementioned patent, however, is the fact that experience indicates that a heavy-weight sheet made from relatively slow stock will tend to split within itself into two plies when such sheet is formed on a directflow cylinder machine. Such splitting tendency does not appear, however, when a sheet of the foregoing type is formed on a counter-flow cylinder machine. Hence, the further utility of a reversible-flow machine is obvious.

Cylinder machines havingan adjustable vat circle are Among advantages not also known in the art, and the advantages thereof are detailed, for example, in the patent to Goldsmith, No. 2,363,786, November 28, 1944. The cylinder machine disclosed in this patent also is provided with a fixed outer vat circle which, together with the inner vat circle, forms an outer vat circle space through which stock flows to its passage to the inner vat circle space. A modern type of improved cylinder machine having an adjustable inner vat circle and a fixed outer vat circle is shown in the patent to Goldsmith, No. 2,509,296, May 30, 1950.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cylinder machine having an adjustable inner vat circle and a fixed outer vat circle with easily-operated uncomplicated means for reversing flow through such machine while maintaining complete adjustability of the inner vat circle.

Itis another object of this invention to provide a cylinder machine of the type described with means for reversing flow through such machine and also with means for controlling flow over the length of the making board duringc'ounter-flow operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a reversible-flow cylinder machine capable of forming a uniform web at much higher speeds and/ or with a wider range of stocks and/ or with a wider range of thicknesses than heretofore possible.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal sectional view through a cylinder machine embodying this invention.

' Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of a portion of Figure l.

[Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

"' Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5' is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of a portion of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a diagram of a complete system incorporating acylinder machine embodying this invention.

"Referring'now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a cylinder machine of the type disclosed in the aforementioned Goldsmith Patent No. 2,509,296 having this invention applied thereto. The machine comprises a vat 10 having front and back ends 12 and 14, respectively, and side walls 16 provided with aligned segmental circular cut-out portions 18. The inner marginal edges of the cut-outs 18 are provided with sealing strips 20 against which abut the ends of a rotatable cylinder mold 22 (shown only diagrammatically) turning in the direction of the arrows, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, i. e., counter-clockwise. The usual diagrammatically shown endless belt 24 and couch roll 26 remove the sheet of fiber from the mold 22 near the top thereof. Exterior wall portions' 28, including removable rectangular central panels 30, form' white water chambers at the opposite ends of the mold 22. Conduits 32 connect these chambers to a white water cross pipe 34 having a center connection 36 to a white water down pipe 38.

'A' fixed outer vat circle 40 secured to and between the side walls 16 extends upwardly from the front of a stock inlet 42 at the back of the vat 10 extending the width thereof and defined by front and back walls 44 and 46, respectively (Figure 2). The outer circle 40 merges into an arcuate intermediate section 48 substantially concentric with the mold 22 and terminates in an outwardly bulging section 50, of a smaller radius, at the front of the vat.

An adjustable inner vat circle 52 formed of flexible metallic sheet material extends between the side walls 16 substantially concentric with the mold 22 to form inner and outer vat circle spaces 54 and 56, respectively. At its front end the sheet forming the inner circle 52 is looped to provide a front head 58 provided therewithin with means, e. g., the shaft 60 extending transversely through the side walls 16 and carrying gears 62 meshing with arcuate racks 64 secured to the head for adjusting suchhead 58 in an arcuate path having its center of curvature directly beneath and in the vertical axial plane of the mold 22.

At its other end the inner circle 52 is fixed to an enclosed backhead 66 provided with means therewithin, e. g., the transverse shafts 68 and 70 carrying gears meshing with the racks 72 and 74, for adjusting the back head both vertically and in an arcuate path substantially concentric with the center of curvature of the arcuate path of adjustment of the front head 58. Through use of the front and back head adjusting means, the inner circle 52 may be adjusted to and from the periphery of the mold 22 between predetermined limits, as shown in Figure 5 of the aforementioned Patent No. 2,509,296. A vertically adjustable dam 76 is slidable in side guides 78 secured to the back head 66 and adjustably positioned by brackets 80 supporting the dam and pivotally engaged in guide slots82 in bars 84 mounted on a parallel linkage 86 controlled by a transverse rock shaft 88. A vat back wall 90 extending rearwardly and upwardly from the back wall 46 of the inlet 42 forms, together with the side walls 16, the back head 66', and the vertically adjustable dam 76, an overflow chamber 92..

The structure described thus far is completely shown and described in the aforementioned U. S. Patent No.

3 2,509,296 and reference is made thereto for a more detailed disclosure.

At its bottom, the back head 66 hingedly carries an articulated sealing plate or curtain 94 extending the width of the vat inlet 42 and comprising upper and lower sections 96 and 98. The upper section 96 depends from a rod 100 rockably carried in a downwardly-opening horizontal cylindrical channel 102 in the bottom of the back head 66. The bottom edge of the upper section 96 is located above the inlet 42 and hingedly carries the lower section 98 by a transverse rod 104 rockably enclosed in an upwardly-opening cylindrical channel 106 in the upper edge of the lower section. The lower section 98 depends through the vat inlet 42 into a vat inlet extension 108 having an upper coupling flange 110 secured to a coupling flange 112 on the vat inlet.

vThe vat inlet extension 108 is provided, as best shown in Figures 2 and 3, with a plurality of plungers 114 ex tending transversely through the front and back walls of the extension. The plungers 114 are sealed, at their point of passage through the extension walls, with conventional packing glands 116. Preferably, at least three such plungers 114 are provided, one adjacent each end and one in the center of the vat inlet extension 108. The center plunger 114 is vertically spaced from the two end plungers 114 (as shown in Figure 3) for reasons later explained. Within the vat inlet extension 108 each plunger 114 is provided with a short circumferentially reduced section or groove 118 snugly but slidably straddled by the marginal side wall portions of a corresponding vertical notch or slot 120 extending upwardly from the lower edge of the lower curtain section 93. By means of this construction, it will be seen that because of the vertical spacing between the center and end plungers 114 the lower curtain section 98 is maintained in vertical posi tion, but may, because of the horizontal hinge connections between the sections 96 and 98 and between the back head and the upper section 96, be moved from the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2 to the position shown in broken lines by corresponding endwise movement of the plungers 114. Additionally, the slots 120 in the lower section 98 allow vertical movements of the articulated plate 94 in order to permit movements of the back head 66 to adjust the inner circle 52.

The front ends of the plungers 114 are provided with reduced threaded extensions 122, shown best in Figure 2, which extend through slots 124 in brackets 126 secured to the corresponding upper and lower coupling flanges 110 and 128 of the inlet extension 108. Threaded onto the extensions 122, on opposite sides of the brackets 126, are stop nuts 130 which can be adjusted to either limit the travel or fix the position of the plungers 114 and correspondingly the articulated plate 94. Preferably, each stop nut 130 is provided with a corresponding lock nut 132.

Although the stop nuts 130 themselves may be operated to move the plungers 114 in order to shift the articulated plate 94 from one position to the other, power operated means, such as the air cylinders 134 supported on plates 136 and 138 secured to the flanges 110 and 128, respectively, may be connected to the opposite or back ends of the plungers 114 for simultaneous and convenient reciprocating thereof. The usual air lines 140 are con nected to the cylinders 134 at their opposite ends and to conventional control valve means (not shown) for controlling the admission and exhaust of air under pressure at the opposite ends of the cylinders.

7 When the articulated plate 94 is in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2, i. e., against the back wall 46 of the vat inlet 42, inflowing stock is directed into the outer vat circle space 56 for direct-flow operation, i. e., flow into the inner vat circle space 54 at the down-turning side of the mold 22. For this operation stock flows over the front head 58, which then constitutes at making board, through the inner vat circle space 54, over the adjustable darn 76, and into the overflow chamber 92. In direct-flow operation of a cylinder machine, stock is always recirculated. Therefore, the back wall of the vat is provided, at its lower portion, with an outlet to which is connected a recirculating pipe 142.

When the articulated plate 94 is shifted to the position shown by broken lines in Figure 2, i. e., against the front wall 44 of the vat inlet 42, inflowing stock is directed into the lower portion of the overflow chamber 92 for counter-flow operation, i. e., flow into the inner vat circle space 54 at the upturning side of the mold 22. To prevent escape of inflowing stock from the chamber 92, the pipe 142 is provided with a valve 144 (Figure 6) which is closed when the plate 94 is in aforementioned position. From the overflow chamber 92 stock flows over the darn 76, then constituting a making board, and into the inner vat circle space 54. In counter-flow operation of a cylinder machine, stock usually is not recirculated. In some instances, however, recirculation of stock during counterfiow operation is desirable, and for this purpose there is provided an outlet to the outer vat circle space 56 beneath and adjacent the front head 58 and to which is connected a stock recirculating pipe 146 communicating, at its lower end, with the stock recirculating pipe 142 beyond the valve 144. The pipe 146, above its junction with the pipe 142, is provided with a valve 148 which is closed during direct-flow operation of the machine. When recirculating stock, during counter-flow operation, stock flows from the inner vat circle space 54 over the from head 58 and into the outer vat circle space 56 from whence it flows downwardly through the pipe 146.

In counter-flow operation in some instances it is desirable to space the articulated plate 94 a slight distance away from the front wall 44 of the vat inlet 42 instead of thereagainst, so that there will be slight inflow of stock into the outer vat circle space 56 in order that the resulting slight current may prevent stagnation of stock therein and also to increase the total inlet flow to prevent stagnation in other parts of the system. Further, in order to prevent stagnation of stock in those sections of the stock recirculating pipes 142 and 146 above their valves 144 and 148, and also to provide for smoother flow of stock without undue turbulence into the lower portion of the overflow chamber 92 during counter-flow operation and through the outer vat circle space 56 during direct-flow operation, the stock outlets, i. e., the inlets to the recirculating pipes 142 and 146, are provided with covering slides 150 and 152, respectively, which are transversely reciprocable in guide ways 154, 156 secured to the back wall 90 and the inner side of the outer vat circle 40, respectively. The slides 150 and 152 preferably are provided with rings 158 and 160 which may be reached by a hook (not shown) through wash-out doors 162 and 164 to move the slides to their covering or uncovering positions. For counter-flow operation the slide 150 is closed while the slide 152 is open, and vice versa for direct-flow operation.

Counter-flow vats customarily are equipped with two wing boards which are pivoted at the center of the making board and arranged to permit their outer ends to be lower leaving their center ends higher than the making board, or conversely to permit their outer ends to be raised higher than their inner ends. It is a characteristic of counter-flow vats that an obstruction to the flow produces a heavy streak longitudinally in the sheet. Therefore, when the wing boards are lowered at their outer ends leaving their center ends high, the center of the sheet is made heavier. When the wing boards are higher at their outer ends than at the center, the edges of the sheetwill be made heavier. Accordingly, wing boards are adjustable in order to overcome inclinations in the making board of a counter-flow vat and to maintain the making of a sheet of substantially unfiorm thickness.

The aforementioned flow-obstruction streaking characteristic of counter-flow vatsis not present in direct-flow vats. For the above reasons, a machine embodying the instant invention is equipped with wing boards 166 (Figures 1, 4, and on the vertically adjustable dam 76, which wing boards are utilized during counter-flow operation of the machine. As best shownin Figure 4, the wing boards 76 are of equal length and are pivoted at their inner ends at the center and on the front side of the vertically adjustable dam 76, preferably with the inner ends of the wing boards of the order of /2 to 1'' above the top of the dam. On the front of each wing board 166 at it outer end there is a lug 168 (Figure 5) having a threaded vertical aperture therethrough. Threaded into such aperture is an adjusting bolt 170 which extends through a bracket 172 secured at the top of the dam 76. Rotation of the bolts 170 by their handled heads 174 serves to raise or lower the outer ends of the wing boards 166. These outer ends of the wing boards 166 preferably are adjustable from being flush with the top of the dam 76 to the order of 1" above the top of the wing boards at their inner ends.

Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings, there is shown a complete system embodying this invention. The recirculating stock pipe 142 leads to a mixer 176, which may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,354,007. The white water down pipe 38 may also lead to the mixer 176 and new stock may also be admitted to the latter by a pipe 178 controlled by a choke valve 180. The level of stock in the overflow chamber 92 during direct-flow operation or in the vat circle outer space 56 during counter-flow operation is controlled by a choke valve 182 controlling the recirculating stock pipe 142 immediately before the mixer 176. The stock mixture is sent by a pump 184 to an inner conical tank 186 of an upfiow head box 188; the stock flowing over the upper edge of the inner tank and down into an annular space between the latter and an outer conical tank 190 which is opened at the top for escape of air. From the bottom of the outer tank 190 the stock flows through a conduit 192 to a flow spreader 194, which may be of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,465,445. The flow spreader 194 delivers to the stock inlet extension 108.

As aforedescribed, when the machine is to be operated direct-flow, slide 152 and valve 148 are closed, slide 150 and valve 144 opened, and the pneumatic cylinders 134 operated to insure that the articulated plate 94 is in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 2. For counterflow operation, slide 150 and valve 144 are closed, slide 152 and valve 148 opened, and the pneumatic cylinders 134 operated to move the articulated plate 94 to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 2.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the specific embodiment of the upturning side of said mold; a stock recirculating outlet from said chamber; a valve controlling said outlet; a stock inlet located beneath the upturning side of said mold; and diverter valve means for alternatively directing stock from said inlet into said outer vat circle space for direct-flow operation and into said overflow chamber for counter-flow operation, or for directing in- 2. A reversible flow'cylinder paper machine compris-j ing: a-vat; a cylinder mold therein; an inner vat circle adjustable to and from the periphery of said mold andj forming therewith an inner vat circle space; a fixedouter vat circle forming, with said inner circle, an outer vat circle space; means defining an overflow chamber at the upturning side of said mold; a stock recirculating outlet from said chamber; a valve controlling said outlet; a stock recirculating outlet from said outer vat circle space; valve means controlling said second-mentioned stock outlet; a stock inlet located beneath the upturning side of said mold; and diverter valve means for alternatively directing stock from said inlet into .said outer vat circle space for direct-flow operation and into said overflow chamber for counterflow operation, or for directing infiowing stock into both said outer space and said chamber.

3. A reversible-flow cylinder paper machine comprising: a vat; a cylinder mold therein; an inner vat circle adjustable to and from the periphery of said mold and forming therewith an inner vat circle space; a fixed outer vat circle forming, with said inner circle, an outer vat circle space; means defining an overflow chamber at the upturning side of said mold; a stock recirculating outlet from said chamber; a valve controlling said outlet; 2. stock inlet defined, in part, by opposed walls extending the width of said vat beneath the upturning side of said mold; articulated sealing plate means extending the width of said vat, said plate means being hinged to said inner circle, depending into said inlet, and forming a wall portion of said chamber; and means for moving the lower end of said plate means from one of said inlet walls to the other, positioning of said lower end against one inlet wall directing infiowing stock into said outer vat circle space for direct-flow operation, and positioning of said end against the other inlet wall directing infiowing stock into said chamber for counter-flow operation.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which the positioning means includes a reciprocable plunger sealingly extending through the inlet walls and having a circumferential groove therebetween, and the sealing plate means has a vertical slot therein, the marginal side wall portions of which straddle said rod within said groove, whereby said plate means is vertically movable to accommodate adjustments of the vat inner circle.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in which there are a plurality of rods on different levels engaging corresponding slots in the sealing plate means.

6. A reversible-flow cylinder paper machine comprising: a vat; a cylinder mold therein; an inner vat circle adjustable to and from the periphery of said-mold to form therewith an inner vat circle space having an overflow dam at the upturning side of said mold; a fixed outer vat circle forming, with said inner circle, an outer vat circle space; means defining an overflow compartment for receiving flow over said dam; a stock recirculating outlet from said compartment; a valve controlling said outlet; a stock inlet beneath the upturning side of said mold; diverter valve means for alternatively directing stock from said inlet into said outer vat circle space for direct-flow operation and into said chamber for counter-flow operation; and a pair of wing boards adjustably mounted on said dam to control the flow thereover along the length thereof during counter-flow operation.

7. A reversible-flow cylinder paper machine comprising: a vat; a cylinder mold therein; an inner vat circle adjustable to and from the periphery of said mold and forming therewith an inner vat circle space; a fixed outer vat circle forming, with said inner vat circle, an outer vat circle space; means defining an overflow chamber at the upturning side of said mold; a stock recirculating pipe communicating with a lower portion of said chamber; a; valve controlling ;said. :pipe; a slide vvithin' 9. The structure defined'inclaim 8 in, which the stock said. chamber for covering the inletto's aidpipe; aestock recirculating pipes merge intoga; common recirculating inlet beneath. the upturningside of said mold;iand divertertpipe anti including a throttle valve controlling said-pipe. valve. means for alternatively directing infiowingistock i intosaid outer vat circlespace fon direct-flow operation; 5 References Cited In the file thls P n and into a lower portion of said chamber for counter- UNITED STATES PATENTS t flow operation. 7

8, The structure defined in claim 6 including at stock fiz i g 7""5312' g e trc a P p m m gh outervat clrcle" 2,5093% Goldsmith May 30" 1,950

space, valve rneans controlling said pipe,; and a slide 10: within said space for-covering the inlet end of said pipe.- 

